Wisc. state employee sent home for wearing union shirt
IRMA, Wis. — Demonstrators rallied outside a juvenile corrections facility in north central Wisconsin in a dispute over wearing union T-shirts at work.
About 75 people marched outside Lincoln Hills School in Irma Monday because a youth counselor was sent home without pay last week for wearing a shirt with a union logo.
State Department of Corrections spokeswoman Linda Eggert says the agency will investigate the matter. The DOC sent a memo to staff members Friday which said workers are allowed to wear union clothing. The counselor was sent home Thursday.
Troy Bauch is the local representative of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. Bauch tells the Wausau Daily Herald that union leaders decided to rally Monday, in part to support recall efforts aimed at Gov. Scott Walker, who pushed for reducing union collective bargaining rights.